猿真似(さるまね)

さるまね
noun
blind imitation; mindless mimicry
communicationevaluation
1. blind imitation; mindless mimicry
Imitating someone else superficially, without understanding the reason or substance behind what is copied. Always used disparagingly.
それはただの猿真似(さるまね)だ。
That's just mindless imitation.
人(ひと)の猿真似(さるまね)ばかりしていてはだめだ。
You shouldn't just blindly copy others all the time.
成功例(せいこうれい)を猿真似(さるまね)するだけでは、自分(じぶん)の店(みせ)には合(あ)わない。
Merely copying a success story without thought won't suit your own shop.

Literally "monkey mimicry." Refers to imitating others superficially, without grasping the meaning or purpose behind what is copied. Always disparaging. The verb form 猿真似(さるまね)をする / 猿真似(さるまね)する is common.

Common collocations

  • 人(ひと)の猿真似(さるまね)をする: to mindlessly copy others
  • 猿真似(さるまね)にすぎない: to be nothing but blind imitation

Similar words

  • 物真似(ものまね): impersonation; mimicry — neutral; often a performance skill, such as imitating a celebrity
  • 模倣(もほう): imitation — neutral and formal; copying as such, without the negative tone

Related Words

Compare: 模倣(もほう) (imitation)
general
Added 2026.5.19 13:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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